Inspiration, ideas and information to help women build public speaking content, confidence and credibility. Denise Graveline is a Washington, DC-based speaker coach who has coached nearly 200 TEDMED and TEDx speakers--including one of 2016's most popular TED talks. She also has prepared speakers for presentations, testimony, and keynotes. She offers 1:1 coaching and group workshops in public speaking, presentation and media interview skills to both men and women.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Let's face it: Public speakers, for the most part, need encouragement. It takes a lot to get up and do those work presentations and keynote speeches. So why not encourage your favorite speaker, speechwriter or presenter with something that will advance her presentations and public speaking? Conference organizers and program chairs, if you book speakers throughout the year, stock up on these options. Go beyond applause and give one of these thoughtful gifts:

Get something that's essential, but always missing: If I had a nickel for every time I showed up for a speaking gig and asked for a remote, only to be told "Oh, we lost it," I could retire on my earnings. You can advance your public speaking colleague's confidence as well as her slides with the gift of a combination remote-control and pointer, like this Logitech Professional Presenter R800. It's lightweight, small, easy to take with you and insurance against the missing remote problem. Bonus: She'll think of you every time she presents.

Share a trove of quotes by women: This blog is among many voices urging that all speakers, male and female, quote more women when they speak. A trove of quotations for your favorite speaker or speechwriter is The Quotable Woman: The First 5,000 Years -- a reference that makes a great gift for the office team of speechwriters or for a woman speaker you wish to inspire.

Think about gifts of historic proportions: It won't quite be out in time for the holidays, but you can pre-order The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches, a forthcoming compendium, or buy your speaker friend tickets to see the Steven Spielberg movie Lincoln, along with a copy of the Library of America's Lincoln : Speeches and Writings : 1859-1865, so she can get more insight into the famous man's words.